After several minutes of futile efforts to find the exit, Anna finally gave up. She went to the balcony again and looked around. From the height of the balcony, there were grand views and the main road. She tried in vain to look out for Teo's car. It was nowhere close.
Sighing and wiping her tears again, she wandered inside the house. As she walked around the rooms, she saw that one room was locked with the key still in the keyhole. This room was always in use, but she has never been there before.
Inside, the room was more like a pantry. The chaos of things in boxes and plastic bags everywhere. Piles of CDs and—books, books, books. Looking closer, it surprised Anna to find that all the books were in English—classical literature, English textbooks, magazines, newspapers, and even comics.
She opened the old edition of "The Old Man and the Sea" and smiled—Mateo Reez signed the book. After checking a few more textbooks, she was surprised to find that all the books belonged to Teo. They were scribbled incessantly with all sorts of notes and comments. It seemed that Teo had read every book more than once. The comics were painted with notes, obviously, when he thought of some compositions. In another box, she found a pile of scribbled copybooks, where Teo spent hours doing exercises to improve English.
It was a pleasant discovery for her. When he spoke, his English was perfect. Without the slightest accent, he could pass for an American. She could see now how much work had been done. But most of all, they matched in their passion for the language. She immediately remembered the days and nights spent at notebooks, and it was at that moment she seemed to become one with Teo in that. He was in love with language, like her. It was amazing.
She was glad she had come into this room. It helped her to discover Teo from a new side. But what she couldn't comprehend was Randall's warning. Why was he so concerned that she was with Teo? Maybe he was blackmailing him because even in this situation, they were competitors. Even though Randall did not need Anna, but just out of pure selfishness, he acted this way?
The door slammed. Dropping the books, Anna ran down the stairs.
Teo and Ricardo spoke sharply in Italian.
"Teo!" Anna cried out. "What did you do, Teo??"
"Calm down. Your lover is safe and sound, Anna. He was not at home. He was nowhere to be found, actually."
Anna felt an extraordinary relief, but again she was overcome by fear. Ricardo walked up to her and said:
"Anna, I don't know what's going on between you and Randall, but I don't like it. You decide. It is your life."
"Ricardo, I..."
"I'm hungry. I'll make us dinner."
"And Leticia?"
"She's not coming. We had beef."
"Because of what?"
He pivoted and went into the kitchen.
Wasting no time, Anna ran into the room for Teo. He was lying on the bed with his legs crossed and browsed the Internet.
"Teo," began Anna. "Look at me, please."
He immediately turned off the screen and put the phone away. They were silent for a moment. Anna broke the clouds, but Teo was ahead of her.
"I would have killed him, Anna."
"Teo, please don't say that!" her voice shook again.
He stood up on the bed and showed her to a chair. He struggled to maintain a calm expression.
"Teo..."
"Anna," he looked at her coldly. "I don't give a damn what you had with Randall. But I care that you don't respect me."
"Teo, what is that! I do respect you."
"You want to hurt him through me."
"I..."
"Now, listen to what I'm about to say. He doesn't need you, Anna. He talked to Ricardo on the phone in such a way that he was ashamed of you. He screamed for you to be returned, that you would never sleep with me. As if you are some item. Ricardo got into a fight with his girlfriend after because the whole evening he was evil and could not tune in to the romance."
"Look, Teo, I wanted to say that..."
"But I like you, Anna."
She paused for a moment, then continued timidly,
"I'm sorry about everything. And I had no intention of making you feel anything towards me, Teo."
"You had," he corrected quietly.
"I don't think I have the strength for a new holiday fling."
"Fling?" Teo raised an eyebrow. "There is no holiday fling, Anna."
"I guess I like you, too. But I don't think my heart can. I'm... I'm perplexed about everything, Teo. I'm not ready for any relationship. I'm not thinking straight. I..."
"Anna." He moved her chair closer to him and took her hand. "There is a mess in your head. Such a mess that it is visible even to passers-by on the street. Your behavior is utterly devoid of logic, but I see all the motives and reasons behind your every move. I'll tell you one thing. I'm not him. Not them. I'm Teo. And I like you, Anna, no matter what you do. Look at me. Do you hear what I'm saying? Listen carefully. I like you, no matter what. That won't pass. That won't change. It'll only get stronger. You cannot influence it. But you can accept it and give me the green light. And then, Anna, you will be mine. And you will always be mine. I don't share. I'm not giving up. And if you still don't understand—and I can see in your eyes that you don't—you will be mine eventually. Not against your will, Anna, but because you will understand that you are worthy of a normal relationship, worthy of being near someone who respects and loves you. And this is me."
With that, he kissed Anna lightly in the forehead and stood up, having decided to give her some space.

YOU ARE READING
NOT GIVING UP ON FOREVER
RomanceOne woman. Three men. One of them should surely be The One. {Chicklit 1st place. The Retrograde Awards}